Cartridge for storing an electrode pad

• US 6,662,056 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies Europe BV (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mydynski, Steven T., Solosko, Thomas, Leyde, Kent W., Morgan, Carlton B., Picardo, Anthony G., MacDuff, Ian G., Janae, Christine, Bishay, Jon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Assistant Examiner(s): DROESCH, KRISTEN L
• Application Number:
  US09/852,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 206/210, 206/363, 206/370, 206/438, 206/570, 206/567-571, 206/557-565, 206/828, 439/909, 600/372, 600/382, 600/386, 600/391-393, 607/1-2, 607/115, 607/142, 607/148-149, 607/152-153, 607/4-5, D 3/203
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/37294 Means for testing medical devices within the package prior to implantation

Abstract

A cartridge is provided for storing one or more electrode pads such as a defibrillator electrode pad. The cartridge includes a housing having a rigid portion, a storage space disposed within the housing, and a storage-space opening that allows one to remove/insert the electrode pad or pads from/into the storage space. Because it has a housing with a rigid portion, such a cartridge can better protect one or more electrode pads from handling damage. Furthermore, one can construct the cartridge such that it is attachable to a medical device such as an AED. This allows an operator to carry or store the medical device, cartridge, and one or more electrode pads as a single unit. In addition, one can construct the cartridge such that the one or more electrode pads can be pre-connected to the medical device. This can eliminate connecting the one or more electrode pads to the medical device during an emergency.

Claims

1. A cartridge for storing an electrode pad the cartridge comprising:

a housing having a rigid portion;

a storage space disposed within the housing;

a storage space opening operable to allow removal of the electrode pad from the storage space and insertion of the electrode pad into the storage space; and

an electrode-pad connector that extends through the housing, that has a first end disposed outside of the housing and operable to connect to a medical device, and that has a second end disposed within the storage space and operable to connect to the electrode pad,

wherein the housing comprises;

a rigid tray having edges;

rigid side walls attached to the edges of the tray;

a rigid lid; and

a hinge coupled to the rigid lid and to one of the rigid side walls.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion comprises plastic.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion comprises rubber.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion comprises metal.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion comprises ceramic.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 comprising a lid and a sheet of film operable to cover the storage space opening.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the housing and operable to indicate whether the lid is in an opened or closed position.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the housing is attachable to a medical device.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the housing is attachable to a defibrillator.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising electrode pad leads, of the electrode pad, said electrode pad leads directly connected to the electrode pad connector.

11. The cartridge of claim 10 further comprising a removable connector wherein said electrode pad leads of the electrode pad are connected to said removable connector, said removable connector being operable to connect in the electrode pad connector.